Disagreements with Coworkers
Too often we disagree with a solid understanding on our side, but little understanding of the opposition. How can we escape our own prejudices? Good teamwork starts with excellent communication. See how Twist helps teams of all kinds get there. "When you do the work, you can`t decide immediately with a high level of confidence. Doing the work forces you to question your beliefs because you have to argue from both sides. You become a somewhat impartial judge. What is on trial is your opinion. Disagreements will arise from time to time, no matter how a team works together. However, conflict should not lead to destroyed relationships or resentment. It is important for professionals to know how to prevent a situation from escalating and conveying their point of view without becoming rude or arrogant in their words and actions. They may have a disagreement with their colleagues without making them feel that what they like or think is wrong is wrong. In fact, check your judgment at the door when you attend a meeting. Disrespect for a colleague`s ideas or position is inappropriate everywhere, but especially at work.
Making fun of them is even worse. Also, be careful with gentle teasing. Many of your employees were raised by mothers who taught them that "there is a grain of truth behind every tease." Do you know how to disagree with your colleagues, supervisors and colleagues? If so, you have an unusual skill and practice the professional courage that few people in organizations show. The most effective teams and organizations regularly disagree on ideas, goals, strategies, and implementation steps. "You`re not your idea, and if you identify too closely with your ideas, you`re going to be offended when they`re questioned." Identify the things you agree with and recognize that you can understand or see why she might feel the way she does. Open your disagreement by repeating what the other party said, rather than first getting into your areas of disagreement. Help the person feel as if they have been heard, heard and understood. Wondering, even if these are important points, are they worth sabotaging a comprehensive solution? Usually, they are not.
There comes a time when the company needs to move forward, even with an imperfect solution. One way to politely disagree with someone on a work issue is to be presumed innocent. In other words, don`t think the person intentionally misled you or quoted false information. If you turn to your colleagues and suspect innocence, you will find that it is much easier to know why a disagreement occurred. - John Turner, SeedProd LLC We are all adults and most disagreements can be successfully resolved between the two people who are not on an equal footing. But there are a few exceptions that we should all be aware of. For example, if you`re facing a case of harassment in the workplace, it`s a completely different scenario than disagreeing with a colleague about how a project should be approached, or getting bored with how a co-worker takes plum orders. The majority of your employees want to reach agreement on solutions and solve problems.
They want to maintain positive relationships with their colleagues. They want to be thoughtfully thought out and are looking for a place on the list of good employees. You probably won`t leave the meeting in perfect agreement. But as hiring consultant Susan Lankton-Rivas said, Boston.com, resolving conflicts in the workplace isn`t about getting a person to change their mind completely. And if you walk into the room with an open mind, you`re much more likely to find common ground with your colleague and thus significantly defuse your conflict. Better work results. If you and your colleagues constantly push each other to ask each other if there is a better approach, this creative friction is likely to lead to new solutions. "Conflict allows the team to manage difficult situations, synthesize different perspectives, and make sure solutions are well thought out," says Liane Davey, co-founder of 3COze Inc. and author of You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done. "Conflicts are unpleasant, but they are the source of real innovation and also an essential process for identifying and mitigating risks." And there is rarely a fixed value that can be earned in case of disagreement. If you and your colleague are discussing the best way to launch a new initiative – he wants to start first in a single market and you want to enter several at the same time – you will be forced to explore the pros and cons of each approach and, ideally, find the best solutions.
If you don`t agree on everything, your colleagues will see you as argumentative and unpleasant. You will develop a reputation of always disagreeing, and your reasonable disagreement will be considered the same old, the same old. So choose areas that have an impact on the results and that are substantial, significant and important when continuing disagreements. When you determine what is at stake in the problem, problem solving, recommendation, or project, you are more likely to get in touch with your colleague to disagree. Ask questions like these: What is your real concern about the project? What bothers you about this current solution? What needs to happen for you to support a solution comfortably? Are you comfortable with any aspect of my proposal? But how? The next time you`re faced with a situation where you`re fighting your head with a colleague, follow these six steps to treat the disagreement gracefully – and maybe even find a solution that everyone can win. Disagreements are an inevitable, normal, and healthy part of the relationship with others. There is no work environment without conflict. And you shouldn`t want to work in one. Disagreements – when managed well – have many positive outcomes, such as better work products, opportunities for learning and growth, better relationships, and a more inclusive work environment. To reap these benefits, you need to overcome any fear of conflict. Start by letting go of the desire to be loved.
Instead of trying to increase your sympathy, focus on respect, both by giving and winning. Don`t think disagreements are hostile. Most people are willing to hear a different point of view if you respectfully share it. You can also try to imitate someone who is comfortable with conflict. If you`re not yet good at dealing with tense conversations, try the personality of someone who is. Whichever tactic you choose, practice in small doses. Be direct in a low-stakes conversation and see, for example, what happens. There is a good chance that this will go better than expected. You will eventually come to a disagreement with a colleague, and that is only part of the human experience. But when you communicate these disagreements to another person, it`s important that they feel seen and heard. Often, a disagreement can remain a friendly conversation if you simply confirm the other person`s point of view.
This shows that you respect their point of view, even if you disagree with it. It`s also easier for them to understand your point of view when they know you`ve heard and listened to them from every angle. - Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms You can respectfully disagree. Other opinions should not be frowned upon. Instead, work to find common ground. What can you agree on and how can you focus more on agreements than disagreements? For example, if a colleague disagrees with how you handle a customer service incident, find things about that situation that you can agree with, and then agree to disagree with the rest. .